This post is sponsored by The Laughing Cow® and features a fun giveaway that I assembled myself that I hope you guys will love! I am an official brand advocate for The Laughing Cow® in 2014 and while I receive compensation for participation, opinions are my own. I hope you enjoy this post and thanks so much for your support!
If you’ve been reading this blog for a while, you likely already know that I consider myself a very fast eater. (Remember this blog post when I talked about some of the methods Ryan and I use to try to prolong our dinner dates!?) Slowing down and savoring my food takes effort on my part. I’ve always been a really fast eater and for as long as I can remember, I’ve been one of the first people to clear my plate in almost any social setting.
When The Laughing Cow® reached out to me about their new initiative that centers around savoring snack time, I knew I wanted to be a part of it. I know I personally could stand to slow down and enjoy my food a little more and this seemed like a good push to brainstorm ways to make myself take a moment and enjoy what I’m eating.
Below you will find some tips and tricks I’ve been trying to practice during snack and meal times to help me appreciate what I’m eating and actually experience food rather than just inhaling it all the time. I’ve also featured some food pairings with The Laughing Cow Cheeses to give you some snack time inspiration!
Simple Tips for Savoring Snack Time
- Step Away from Electronic Distractions
All too often I’ll eat when I’m working at the computer and look up and think to myself, “I don’t even remember tasting that meal!” What a shame! I never watch TV during the day, but I am on the computer all the time. I also check my phone a lot since I use it to respond to emails, blog comments and other work-related tasks. By stepping away from electronic distractions, I feel much more in the moment and this makes me concentrate on tasting and savoring my snacks and meals.
Crisp Apple Slices + Roasted Almonds + The Laughing Cow Light Swiss Cheese Wedges
- Place My Fork Down In Between Bites
This is a tip I read in a magazine years ago that really does work. I tend to shovel food in my mouth a little too quickly, and taking the time to put down my fork or spoon in between bites extends mealtime a little bit and allows me to think more about what I’m eating and enjoy it.
Cucumber Slices + The Laughing Cow Creamy Swiss Garlic & Herb Cheese Wedges + Freshly Ground Black Pepper
- Enjoy A Snack with a Mug of Hot Tea
This is something I tend to do at breakfast time that makes my morning meal last a little longer, so I tried extending it to snack time and it really does help! If I fix myself an afternoon snack and a hot cup of tea, I’m much more likely to sit down and enjoy my snack rather than grabbing it and stuffing it into my mouth while I’m on the go. Which leads me to my next bullet point…
Gluten-Free Almond Crackers + Ham Pinwheels + The Laughing Cow Creamy White Cheddar Cheese Wedges + Cracked Pepper
- Sit Down
I am the queen of eating at the kitchen counter. When I make myself grab a plate or a bowl and take my snack to the table, it seems to send a message to my brain that this is a time I need to chill out and enjoy what I’m eating rather than eat something as fast as possible before it’s onto the next thing.
Fresh Strawberries + Pretzel Crisps + The Laughing Cow Creamy Light Swiss Cheese Wedges
- Break the Routine
I tend to eat the same snacks over and over again until I get sick of them and discover something new. When I take the time to get a little creative in the kitchen and try something new, I find that I’m a lot more likely to notice and enjoy what I am eating.
And now it’s giveaway time!
I have personally assembled a giveaway worth $300 for one PBF reader to win! I tried to select items to help you kick back and relax a bit so you can thoroughly savor your meals and snacks!
This giveaway includes:
- $100 lululemon gift card – For you to pick up some super cute, comfy lounge-worthy apparel that you can also wear in public
- Cable knit throw from Pottery Barn – To curl up with while you enjoy a delicious snack this winter
- Le Creuset tea kettle (color of your choice) – To brew a hot beverage to sip while you eat
- Anthropologie mug with your initial – So you can sip your tea in style
- Snack Time Kit from The Laughing Cow
To enter this giveaway, simply leave a comment below telling me about one of the tricks you use to encourage yourself to slow down and savor your food or tell me about your favorite snack!
I will randomly select a winner on Friday.
Good luck!
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My trick is to take my snacks outside to the deck. We have a beautiful backyard with a huge deck and a fountain which is very relaxing. And the dog gets some extra yard time. I love watching her run and explore the backyard.
I try to think about what I’m eating in each bite and really take the time to think about how each bite tastes.
My current favorite snack is an apple!
My trick is to sit on my patio in the fresh air and actually enjoy the moment! It’s too easy to scarf down a stack in front of the TV mindlessly.
I put my son in his stroller right next to me and give him kisses every few minutes.
I’m a fast eater too!! I like to avoid sitting in front of the TV and constantly sip water which helps me slow down a bit. My favorite snack would have to be chips and salsa! YUM
I am also a fast eater. I use the tea trick as well. I also try to cut up my food (mainly proteins) in half, cut that half, then eat it slowly. Acknowledge how much is there, etc. ANd enjoy. This also helps to not over eat!
Mmmm I especially like the strawberry combo! I find the best way is to remove myself from distractions like TV, laptop etc. even when I’m tempted to check in on the blog! I always have a better time recognizing that I’ve actually eaten a meal and registering when I’m full (I write this with a bowl of soup in front of me). Something I need to work on obviously!
Tomato, mozzerella, and balsamic is my favorite snack…especially in the summer!
A trick at a party or setting with friends at a home, I always try to put some snacks on a plate instead of standing there and shovelling it into my mouth while mingling. Moving away from the table and putting it on a plate helps!
I try to put my fork down and make sure I’ve swallowed my food before I pick my fork up to take another bite. If I’m feeling patient I’ll usually even try to take a few seconds before my next bite.
When I was in college, I was so good about eating slowly and deliberately! (Maybe it was because I was trying to procrastinate studying or writing papers…) But ever since I started working, I find myself wolfing down meals and snacks. It’s terrible! I think it’s because I’m always rushing to get things down at my job. But I think these tips are incredibly useful – thank you so much! I’m going to try to have hot tea with my lunch today…and also take a deep breath. 🙂
Stepping away from electronics so I can focus on the food is definitely the most helpful thing to get me to slow down. My favorite snack as of late has been plain greek yogurt with a chopped apple, cinnamon, and some crunchy peanut butter.
I remember vividly coming home from elementary school and middle school and my Mom always had “after school” snacks for my siblings and I laid out in the kitchen. She made everything from pizza bagels to graham cracker sandwiches to carrots and ranch dressing. When I was thinking of my favorite snack, I realized, it’s the one someone else makes for me! 🙂
Sitting down. I always seem to snack while standing or moving between tasks! Sitting helps slow me down!
One tip I try to follow for slowing down snacking/eating is to set my utensil, or drop my hands to my side in between each bite. It keeps me from shoveling straight to my mouth nonstop!
What a great giveaway! My favorite snack is popcorn, but I can’t wait to give these ideas a try!
To slow down, I like to brew a pot of decaf tea and sip it. And when I need a sweet snack, I melt a mix of chocolate chips and cookie butter, then dip pieces of banana into it. SO decadent!
My favorite snack is apple slices with almond butter!
There are times that I am working on things and do not want to stop even if I am really hungry, so I try to remove myself from the area that I am working in, so that I can just relax and enjoy a snack or meal without feeling bogged down by things to do. I also like to eat with my fiance because we tend to talk when we eat together, so that prolongs the meal or snack as well 🙂
Just be present! Focus on what I am doing in the moment.
I am also a fast eater, I think I got it from my Mom as she was always the first one done and my Dad was always the last!
I have learned to make sure I chew more thoroughly when I eat and take time to try to taste all the different elements of the food I am eating. For example if you have a marinaded chicken breast, trying to taste all the different spices and flavors individually and seeing what I can pick out. It makes for a fun eating experience and you might start to develop your palate more too!
Thanks for doing these giveaways, and for blogging everyday it makes me smile!
I love apples or honey roasted almonds for a snack! What a great giveaway!
I like to sit and read while I snack…can’t have anything in my hands while i turn pages:)
The only way I have found to slow down eating was to engage into good conversation. Whether it’s with my kids or husband, I love to talk to them and it’s usually at the dinner table. They get so excited talking about school, sports, etc. Good luck and hope this helps!!
My favorite snack is pretzel thins and hummus!! So addicting!
I try to keep my phone away from me while I eat so I don’t have the urge to go on Facebook or Instagram 🙂
I’ve always been a very slow eater, always the last one finished eating a meal! Even so, I don’t think I spend enough time savoring snacks, I just use it to get me through until it’s time for a meal. I’ve been drinking more coffee, and sometimes I will add extra cream to it to make it more special and I have that as a snack by itself sometimes! I also love cheddar cheese on pretzels, I will always take the time to make that happen!
I usually eat at my snacks at my desk late in the afternoon, but recently I’ve been taking my snack outside (weather permitting). It allows me to enjoy my delicious snack, some Vitamin D, and step away from my desk! As of lately, I’ve been LOVING a Honeycrisp or Pink Lady apple with a peanut butter cookie Lara bar.
Sometimes when I’m eating, I realize I’m shoveling food in my face before I even finish swallowing my last bite! So to help me slow down and enjoy my food, I always set my fork down between each bite to stop me from inhaling my food in 2 seconds.
I try to sit down and eat with the phone away and TV off.
I just came back from Italy with my boyfriend, and it was such a nice break from our bad habits of eating dinner in front of the TV (usually jeopardy) and inhaling our food (so bad!). We ate outside a lot, and besides the beautiful scenery, there were very few distractions (data roaming is expensive!). It really reminded me to taste my food, enjoy it. And then you don’t end up overeating! Even with all the wine and food I indulged in, the scale stayed the same. 🙂
I have two main tricks that I use to slow down. One is that I use baby spoons and forks so I take smaller bites! I also use this app called ‘eat slower’ where you can set the time to tell you when you can take a bite. I don’t use it everyday, but it’s great for a reminder once in a while and training myself to slow down!
I’ve been recently trying to not eat/nibble on food while I prep for dinner. Instead, I try to focus on being patient for the meal to be done and enjoying the cooking process.
I can relate to this post so much! Sitting down at the table really helps me to slow down.
I now turn off everything electronic while I am eating. It’s probably the hardest tip to implement and it took me awhile to feel successful at it.
One tip that definitely works for me to slow down snack time (and make me eat less!) is to put the snack on a plate. This both makes me focus on preparing the snack and stops me from mindlessly eating from the container.
I try to be conscious of eating nutritious snacks so that I’m not constantly snacking!
My favorite snack is apple slices with almond butter. I make sure to sit down at the table and close my tablet while eating!
I like to make sure that I sit down at the table for every snack/meal. Also, when snacking on yogurt or anything else I can eat with a spoon, I try to choose the smallest spoon available. This helps keep me snacking longer! 😉
I try to consume my snacks on my porch, enjoy being in the quiet, and leave all electronics inside!
I am always in a hurry so taking time to really enjoy my meal is very important! My favorite thing to do is to eat out on my front porch and enjoy the mountains.
This is something I’ve really been trying to work on lately! Putting down my fork between bites definitely helps.
If I am out to dinner, I try to pace myself by looking at the people I’m eating with. If I’m almost done but they aren’t even halfway through, there’s a problem. I try to slow down and match my pace to theirs so I’m not the only one with an empty plate.
I make sure to drink at least two glasses of water with each meal. Watching television also distracts me from eating too quickly.
I try to remind myself while I am eating that the better I chew my food the better it is for digestion. Sitting at the table helps a lot as well.
I love Laughing Cow on Ritz crackers! I know it’s not healthy, but oh so good!
My daughter is almost 18mos old and runs around everywhere like crazy so I feel like I’m always chasing her, which means I hardly get to sit down to eat snacks:( And breakfast she has decided she likes to eating sitting on my lap…I spend the whole time trying to keep her out of my food and eating her’s. So I sooooo look forward to lunch when I put her down for her nap, and yes it’s late, sometimes 1:30pm, but…I get to make my lunch, sit down, put my feet up, and actually enjoy my food, knowing I’m not going to have to share or pick someone up when they fall! 🙂
I tend to gravitate toward savory/salty snacks, so one of my favorites is tortilla chips & salsa w/cheese. Really, anything involving cheese. 🙂
I also wanted to echo what a commenter above said: thank you for doing these giveaways, and for blogging everyday – your blog is one of my favorites. I’m always excited to read your posts!
My boyfriend eats incredibly fast, which in turn means I eat fast too when we eat together. I try to take a drink of water in between every couple of bites to slow down and help me realize when I’ve had enough so it’s less mindless snacking (although that never works with popcorn, popcorn just gets inhaled lol).